Group Chief Technology Services Officer
HSBC Holdings
[PNR]

London-based HSBC Holdings describes Sean O’Sullivan as the “accountable executive” — more colloquially, the go-to guy — for the systems, operational services and support that ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of a $2.6 trillion-in-assets, 307,000-employee behemoth. Of those people, 100,000 work in technology, on which the bank spends a staggering $6 billion annually. Technology objectives center on “enhancing the customer experience and making it easier for the customer to do business with the group,” says O’Sullivan, 55. He became chief technology services officer in January, succeeding Ken Harvey
(No. 12  last year), who retired in March. Previously CTSO for the U.K., O’Sullivan says his HSBC Technology and Services group, known as HTS, aims to reduce complexity and “standardize banking propositions” across all processes and products delivered through 7,500 offices in 87 countries. He stresses consistency and best practices in the effort to “align [HTS] closely with the business to improve speed and quality and focus on the customer and innovation.” O’Sullivan spent the first 22 of his 31 years with HSBC in its Canadian subsidiary. He has served as COO of HSBC Canada and executive vice president of HSBC USA in New York.